Is it safe to withdraw cash in Syria or not?
There was an ATM near my hotel in Old Damascus that I never dared use after 6 PM. Lighting is minimal, the streets quieten fast, and most machines don’t have updated systems. You’re far better off doing cash planning during daylight and avoiding dependence on local ATMs altogether.
An NGO volunteer I met told me they only withdrew during office hours inside official banks. Outside of Aleppo and Damascus, ATM use drops significantly. In some towns, machines are non-functional or completely empty. Nighttime access isn’t just risky - it's mostly unavailable.
I stayed in Latakia and tried using an ATM outside a state bank. It was 6:30 PM, still light out, but the machine only dispensed a small amount and had no English interface. Most travelers here rely on money changers or hotel desk cash exchanges. I wouldn’t rely on ATMs, especially after dark.
In Damascus, I found a working ATM attached to a Cham Bank branch near Bab Touma around 7 PM. The machine worked, but the street emptied fast, and the nearby stores were closing. Withdrawing money at night in Syria is not advisable - not just due to safety but also due to power cuts and limited cash availability. I kept my transaction brief and moved quickly.